Kolkata’s famed Kumartuli potters’ colony has witnessed a surge in international demand, with more than 300 idols of Goddess Durga and her progeny shipped abroad this year, surpassing the 2024 tally by 60.
Potters’ associations credited the rise to both revived post-pandemic enthusiasm and a renewed preference for the traditional 'saveki' look of the idols.
Significantly, Russia, which skipped orders last year due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, returned to the buyers’ list in 2025, joining the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, the UAE, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Canada, France and Poland.
Most of the idols bound for overseas communities are crafted in fibreglass, chosen for durability and ease of transport. “The number of idols sent abroad has already surpassed the 300 mark this year. It was around 240 last year,” a spokesperson of Kumartuli Mritshilpi Samity confirmed.
The overseas Durga Pujas, unlike those in Bengal, often stretch across weekends instead of adhering to dates prescribed in scriptures. A single idol is also frequently used for several years, adding to the demand for sturdier materials.
Kaushik Ghosh, a veteran craftsman, said he alone had dispatched 37 fibreglass idols to Russia, the US, the UK, Singapore, the UAE, Australia and Japan. “Last year, the Durga Puja committee in Russia could not order the idol because of the war with Ukraine. This year, they decided to organise the puja, which symbolises the triumph of good over evil,” he said.
Kumartuli alone, with its 450-odd workshops, produces close to 4,000 idols of Goddess Durga every year, supplying both community pujas across Bengal and overseas organisers.
There is no official nationwide count of Durga idols crafted annually, though the figure is believed to run into tens of thousands when local productions in states such as Odisha, Bihar, Tripura and Assam are taken into account, along with countless household pujas.
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The shipments began in January, gained pace in March and April, and concluded in early June. “All organisers have opted for the 'saveki' look of the idol this time. At least six idols have been sent to the US alone, in Florida, California, Los Angeles, Washington and elsewhere,” Ghosh added.
Another prominent sculptor, Mintu Pal, said he has dispatched around 25 idols to Canada, Germany, France, Poland, Italy, besides the US and UK. “Unlike a few experimentations last year projecting a certain theme on the lines of the community Durga Pujas in Kolkata, this year the trend is for a traditional look,” Pal noted.
Kolkata’s community pujas are known for their elaborate themes, ranging from social messages to reflections on current events. But when it comes to overseas orders, traditional forms remain the strongest draw.
Modeller Bikash Paul, who shipped 10 idols to the UK and US by sea, echoed the sentiment. “The demand for traditional idols is predominant,” he said.
On pricing, sculptors revealed that idols are typically valued from ₹1.5 lakh upwards for figures standing between 6 and 8 feet. This does not include the cost of packaging and freight.
The five-day Durga Puja festival begins on 28 September this year, with Kumartuli’s creations already set to add colour to celebrations across continents.
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